Ch. 2

Hey guys! I've motivated myself to sit down and write again. This will probably turn out to be a late update due to how much time I've given myself to update this. I will try to get this posted on Sunday, but I do have church, so... I'll try my best.

I just want to thank all my reviewers (Night Raiders, Ava Simbelmyne, and Teddybearcrazy). Your reviews mean a lot to me and they made my day. SO thank you.

Night Raiders: Thanks! I'm glad you don't think it is cringy. I self doubt myself all the time, so thanks for the encouragement.

Ava Simbelmyne: I've been pretty well lately. I'm super busy with homework and I'm sorry I haven't messaged in a while. Again, I'm really, really happy to see the encouragement. It's really making me feel more confident.

Teddybearcrazy: Comments do mean a lot to me. Comments, follows, and favorites help me see that people are actually reading something I'VE written, although I don't directly ask for comments. I'm glad you enjoyed reading this and I will certainly try to update as much as possibly because I definitely want people reading this. So thanks for taking the time to comment!

PS. I had another reviewer. Thank you guest for reviewing. I can't give you proper recognition for your review because I don't know your username, but whoever you are, I'm glad that you took the time and reviewed, so thank you!

I hope you enjoy what's to come!

Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider or any part of the Alex Rider series, including Wolf and Fox sadly. All credits goes towards Anthony Horowitz.

They both stared at each other in shock, and Alex faintly heard Ben chuckling away in the background. He was sure glad that someone was getting a kick out of this whole situation, because he sure wasn't, and from the look on Wolf's face, he wasn't either. To be honest, Mrs. Jones was probably having a good old time too, now that he thought about it. It would certainly explain that reassuring smile on her face when he was about to leave. She was reassuring him from what was to come, he thought glumly.

Alex tore his gaze away from Wolf's and took a step forward to glare at Ben. He knew all along, and he didn't even say anything; there was no way he was going to get away scotch free.

Ben, seeing his death glare, stopped laughing instantly and raised his hands in surrender. "I told you that you probably didn't want to know," he said hesitantly, glancing between Alex and Wolf.

"Probably?!" Alex yelled as Wolf said, "What do you mean, he probably didn't want to know?"

"That's not important!" Ben exclaimed quickly, pushing Alex forward even more, while Alex pushed back. He was almost nose to nose with Wolf, and he wasn't going to get between the two of them because Ben was afraid of getting attacked. It'd teach him to shut his mouth once in a while.

"It's getting pretty cold out here. Why don't we come in, and you can show Alex where his room is," he suggested after a moment of unsuccessfully trying to push Alex, chuckling nervously.

Wolf glared at Ben for a moment, saying nothing. There was dead silence. Nothing. Nada. Even Alex was starting to get uncomfortable.

After the point was made, Wolf finally slid over, allowing them entrance. "In," he grunted. " But don't expect me to feed you, Fox."

Alex sighed as he truffled through wads of paper, searching for a phone book or anything that had a take-out menu. He assumed it would have been easier, seeing as Wolf probably didn't get out much, revealed through the amount of take out boxes in the trash across the kitchen. On second thought, that man really needed to learn how to socialize and get out, Alex thought, smiling to himself.

Alex continued shuffling through the papers, but jerked in surprise when he saw a gun under the pile of papers he had been leafing through. Why on earth did Wolf have a gun in the kitchen, of all places? Was he expecting to be murdered in the midst of eating cereal at seven in the morning? It wasn't as if he had used this particular gun for a while by how hidden it was under the masses of paper, unless he had plopped all this paperwork onto the island overnight. Wolf had probably been looking for the gun for a while. Alex hesitated. On impulse, he tucked it inside the waist of his pants carefully after checking to make sure the safety was on before he could change his mind. He would return it... eventually...for a price. Wolf probably wasn't in desperate need of it anyway if he hadn't found it by now.

A few minutes later, he found a notebook paper with multiple restaurants listed that apparently had take-out. He snatched the home phone he found also laying in the paper catastrophe and dialed a number at random.

Almost immediately, someone picked up the other side of the line. "Hello, this is Frank's Chips, how may I help you?" an overly thrilled voice said in record timing.

Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise. How could someone possibly be this happy on a Monday? "Oh, uh, do you still deliver at this time of the evening?" he stuttered.

"We sure do!" the man replied. "What can I get for you today?'

"What do you serve?" Alex put the phone against his shoulder and pulled a surprisingly new stool from the bar and set it by the island while listening.

"Well, our special is fish and chips..." he suggested.

Alex sat down and absently mindedly nodded before realizing the man couldn't see him through the phone. "Yeah, I'll take three of those, please."

"No problem, sir. is that all?"

"Yeah, that'll be all, thank you."

"Okay, your order total will be £18." Alex heard the man pause, fumbling around in the background. "Can I have a name and address to deliver your fish and chips?"

Alex eyes widened. He had forgotten all about the address in the mad scramble for finding a number to get food. "Can I have a moment please," he asked the man awkwardly.

The man didn't even hesitate before responding. "Sure thing, sir. I'll put you on hold." Alex heard a click and set the phone down calmly. After he had done that, he ran towards the door, peeking out into the empty living room. He heard shouting from upstairs and winced. He definitely wasn't going to get help there. He spun around and searched through the forgotten papers, scrambling to find a bill. He cried in triumphant as he found a hospital bill. It had St. Dominic's address in the top left-hand corner and Wolf's in the middle. Bingo. Alex quickly memorized the address and grabbed the phone again.

"Hey, I'm back," he said breathlessly.

"Okay, so what was that name and address again?" he said sweetly.

"Alex Rider. The address is-" he listed.

There was silence on the other end till he heard a small gasp. Alex frowned slightly. "Is everything alright, sir?"

There was another pause. "Yes, yes," the man grumbled, now grumpy. "My wife just stepped on my foot, that's all."

Alex laughed, relieved. "Oh, okay. How long will it be?"

"However long it takes!" the man snapped, and Alex heard the dial tone. Alex slowly set the phone down on the receiver, confused. That was weird, but as long as he got food, he was okay with it. Alex didn't know how the man got his panties in a wad, but he wasn't about to let that ruin his day even more than it had already been.

Wolf stared at Fox as if he had grown a second head. "I didn't agree to that!"

As soon as he had invited the two in, he had dragged Fox through the living room and upstairs to his room, out of sight of the prying eyes. Fox had called down for the kid to order some food, which made Wolf even angrier. Wolf had full intention to lash out at Fox as he slammed the door behind him.

Fox held his hands up in peace at his last statement. "It won't be that bad. I'll be there with you so you don't kill Alex."

"That's not what I'm worried about," Wolf muttered.

Fox groaned. "Then what are you worried about?" Wolf watched him carelessly flop down on his bed and tried his hardest not to growl like his namesake.

Instead, Wolf narrowed his eyes at Fox's exaggeration. "You didn't tell me that I had to form a bond with the kid. I was just informed that I had to take him in and feed him or whatever."

"Or whatever?" Fox repeated, agitated. Wolf's eyes snapped up in shock. "He's not some dog! He's a human being who has been through the unimaginable. He just found out that the people who are out to get him kidnapped his guardian and she may possible be dead. We have no way of finding out elsewise."

Wolf sighed at what was revealed and shut his eyes briefly. "I didn't know that."

"You didn't ask." A hand snapped near his face and his eyes sprung open to see Fox eye to eye with him.

"How am I supposed to speak with him? I don't know how to speak to a kid. You know that," Wolf grumbled, trying to show some of the little dignity he had left.

"First of all, he's not a kid, he's a teenager capable of killing you in seconds," Fox corrected him. Wolf gulped. "Second of all, you're going to learn tonight because he'll be staying with you for the three years till he turns eighteen."

Wolf sat there, emotionless.

Fox sighed, finally cooling down at seeing Wolf's expression. "I know, they didn't tell you that and I know you don't want to take care of a teenage spy for that long, but with your injuries, they're not risking sending you back into active duty again. You could probably become a sergeant or an instructor, but your injuries won't allow you to recover fully. This is the perfect opportunity for both you and Alex, and you know it."

"Why are you telling me this? Why didn't they have the guts to face me and tell me what you just said?" Wolf said hoarsely.

Fox lowered his eyes. "I don't know. I just know you'll be honorably discharged in a few weeks."

Wolf breathed in shakily. He wasn't even a soldier anymore. What did that make him then? The SAS was his whole life, and now he had nothing. Nothing but that stupid cat.

He took in a few breaths before he was able to speak again. Thankfully, Fox took it all in silently, non-judgemental. "So, that therapy cat wasn't a joke, was it?"

Fox smiled, relieved that the tension was gone. "Nope, it wasn't. It's here to help you with all the stress from everything. I bet you love it... wait, where is it?"

Wolf shrugged. "I think it's in Alex's room, checking out all the new bags you put in there. I couldn't care less."

Fox gasped dramatically. "That's not true! It can't be."

Wolf rolled his eyes. "It is."

"It is not. Admit it. You have come to love that cat," Fox said, sure of himself and his wild proclamation. Again, they got to the point where they were having a stupid staring contest and Wolf growled, unable to stand it any longer.

"Fine," Wolf sighed. "Will it make you shut up if I tell you that it's starting to grow on me?"

"For now," Fox promised.

"It better."

"When have I ever broken my promises?" Fox exclaimed.

Wolf raised an eyebrow. "You really want me to answer that?"

"..."

"That's what I thought."

"Are you sure of this?"

Jackson Collins was sure of it. The moment he had heard the name uttered, he was frozen with excitement.

Ever since he had joined Scorpia, he had been known as the little one because of how little he was, how weak he looked compared to others. They hadn't expected him to pass his first test, but he had. There was no backing down now. Not when he had the chance for millions. Not when he could prove himself. Not when he had the chance to destroy Scorpia's greatest enemy currently.

Sure, he felt slightly guilty for turning the kid in, now that he thought of it. He had to admit that Rider had sounded pretty nice over the phone, but he knew it all could have been an act, a cover to disguise what he really was. So, he turned him in.

Soon, he would be out of this chip dump and he could do real mission, however childish it sounded. He didn't care what they thought of him as long as he got more respect and a whole lot more money with it. That's all that mattered to him.

"I'm sure of it, sir. He gave me his new address too," he said without hesitation.

There was a pause as his superior took it all in. Finally, he hissed, "Send the address through the messages. The boss will want to know."

"Yes sir." The boss. The BOSS of all Scorpia. He would have to talk with her?

"Oh, one more thing, Collins." his superior said. Jackson could only imagine the evil grin that had probably lit across his face as he said it and winced internally. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea afterall...

"Yes sir?"

"Report to base to debrief. Your next mission will be waiting." he commanded. But he was not done speaking. No, not nearly.

Jackson took in a deep breath as he heard the next words. "The next time Alex Rider calls will be his last. You will poison him. He. Will. Die."

Thirty minutes later saw Wolf, Ben, and Alex (and Jay, the cat) chatting over takeout in the living room (of course the kitchen and dining room has been taken over by paperwork). Fox had paid the bill for the food after being threatened by Wolf lightheartedly. Wolf seemed much more positive and easy going than he first did when he invited them in. Now, he was enjoying his food and talking small talk with Ben about work things. He wasn't talking to Alex directly yet, but Alex knew it was a start in the right direction. Fox most have done a number on him while Alex was getting the food ordered, he thought as his petted Jay's soft, long grey fur as he brushed up against Alex's leg.

"So," Ben began, setting down his tray. "How's school going? Are you catching up on all that make up work?"

Alex nodded. "It's going okay. I haven't been called in for...work... in a while, so I've had time to catch up in some classes. I'm still behind in english and history though, but I'm working on it." He stood up to take his trash to the kitchen, but when he brushed pass Wolf, Wolf reached out to stop him after an obvious nod from Ben.

"Hey, uh, kid.." he said hesitantly. Alex paused. Ben shoved an elbow in Wolf's side, and Wolf turned to glare at him before continuing his train of thought, making Alex a little less tense. "Uh, sorry. It's Alex, right?" Wolf asked.

"Yeah. My name is, uh, Alex Rider," he said nervously.

Wolf attempted to faintly smiled, which turned out more like a grimace, but Alex didn't look a gift horse in the mouth. He smiled back instead, which seemed to boost Wolf's confidence even more. Wolf continued more surely this time. "My name is James Garcia. I, uh, I just wanted to let you know that if you need help in school, all you have to do is ask. My dad was an English major after he retired from the army, and I majored in history before I joined SAS. I'm sure we could figure the rest out together, right?" Ben clapped him on the shoulder and Alex grinned.

"Sure. After all, two minds think alike, right?"Alex joked.

Wolf laughed. "Yeah."

...

Later that night, when Alex snuggled up in his new bed with Jay purring beside him, he had to admit that this was turning out to be alright, even if it was just the first day. Wolf's therapy cat was a pretty nice companion to have around, anyway.

Alex found Wolf having a nice, innocent little cat quite amusing. Wolf swore up and down that the reason why he had a cat instead of a dog was because he was allergic, but Alex believed he really just had a soft spot somewhere buried deep within him. The cat just brings that out of people, no matter how much they resisted.

Alex smiled at the thought and cuddled up with the furry companion, drifting off to the soft sound of purring in his ear.

Sorry for the late update. I just want to let you know that it's all my cat's fault. Well, not all, but a lot. I can't resist her cuteness!

Anyhow, I want you to know that Alex hasn't forgotten about Jack. He will learn more in the next chapter. I thought he just deserved a little happiness before all the action happens. If you can't already tell, this story doesn't really have a plot and I just enjoy writing it. So I hope you enjoyed reading it, but if not, that's okay. Some people don't get my craziness. Have a good week and I hope to update really soon. Fanfiction is making me really mad right now because it takes of all my edits like bold and italics, and I've put it on several time, gah.